ihedn-jeunes cycles
A week at the heart of national defence
The Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale is an institution for training, reflection and high-level debate on issues of military defence, national defence, national security and international security, open to the world and anchored in the European area.
In order to contribute to the development of a spirit of defence among students and young professionals, who will be active players in society tomorrow and today, it organises Youth cycles six to eight times a year, including one in overseas France, to bring together students from a wide range of sectors, military and civilian, public and private, driven by a shared desire to understand each other in order to act together.
The course is designed to raise awareness of strategic issues, while at the same time providing an insight into existing defence tools and structures. Accessible to all, it is designed to be both didactic and demanding in terms of the investment expected, and provides an excellent introduction to national defence circles. It is an excellent introduction to national defence circles, providing an opportunity for listeners to meet, cross points of view and decompartmentalise their knowledge.
Objectives and interests
Cycle objectives
Led by high-level officials from the military, academia and civil society, the conferences - supplemented by visits and committee work - enable participants to :
- understand the complexity of issues with a strong interdepartmental, European and international dimension;
- identify the main players and issues in this field, whether French, European or international;
- think collectively on strategic perspectives on a given theme of current international interest;
- visit the defence industry and its technological and industrial environment ;
- forging a common defence culture and prepare participants to work together to strengthen national cohesion.
Cycle contributions
Whatever their initial level of knowledge, the auditor develops its knowledge defence issues and France's positioning. Gathering data and analysis, and working with profiles recruited for their diversity, they learn to forming and arguing an opinion on the strategic and societal issues of tomorrow, in a world that it will help to change by anticipating change defence and security. Finally, it built operational proposals as part of a collective approach to meet the challenges of the future.
Organisation
The Youth cycles last a week, from Monday morning to Friday evening, with a dense rhythm of activities.
This represents a total of 5 days of training, or 39 hours. The work carried out by the committee may exceed this number of hours.
The annual programme includes six to eight cycles open to the public, generally including one overseas and one in the Paris region.
In order to reach out to potential listeners, the Youth Cycles travel to different regions. Each region hosts a Youth Cycle approximately every two years.
The Youth programmes (with the exception of those run at the École Militaire or in cooperation with regional associations) are full-board boarding school programmes, to facilitate access for students.
Cycles completed at the Military Academy or in cooperation with the Regional Associations of IHEDN alumni are placed under the external student regime.
Although applications from regional nationals are given priority, each cycle is open to all candidates who meet the application requirements, regardless of their region of residence.
pedagogical format
"understanding in order to act, understanding each other in order to act together".
The educational triptych :
The pedagogy of the Youth cycles is based on a triptych the link between theory and practice, while respecting the principles of the Chatham House privacy policy :
- Lecture-debates providing elements for analysis, discussion and understanding of the subjects covered;
- Committee workThe aim is to develop a collegial approach to a topical or forward-looking issue;
- Field visitsThese are industrial, technological and/or military projects with high added value in terms of defence and security issues, providing an opportunity to base our thinking on practical experience and human encounters.
Each cycle comprises around nine lectures and one or two visits. The programme is subject to the availability of the speakers and the sites to be visited. It will be announced once the selection results have been received and is subject to change.
The 4 youth cycle modules:
The activities are divided into modules to provide a comprehensive understanding of defence and security issues.
- Module 1: Strategic issues
- Module 2: Knowledge of defence and the armed forces
- Module 3: International cooperation and conflict
- Transverse module Committee work
becoming an auditor
► Target group
The course brings together around 80 French students aged between 20 and 30:
- Students or young PhDs from a variety of educational backgrounds (such as political science, international relations, security and defence, engineering, etc.);
The course is accessible to people with disabilities, subject to special assistance and within the limits of the requirements for travel and teaching activities.
For further information, please contact us at seminaires_jeunes@ihedn.fr and Correspondant.Handicap@ihedn.fr
The status of IHEDN Young Auditor is awarded by decision of the Director of the IHEDN at the end of the course.
► Number of places
Each Young People's cycle welcomes around 80 listeners.
► Register
No pre-requisites are required, apart from compliance with the following conditions:
- register on the "Simplified procedures" website (see Upcoming cycles tab) and submit an application in the required digital format before the registration closing date set for each cycle;
- only complete applications will be examined;
- for working people, proof of at least a level 5 diploma (DEUG, BTS, DUT, DEUST).
► Selection criteria
The main criteria used to select candidates are as follows:
- motivation for defence and security issues ;
- the quality and diversity of the course;
- diversity of interests ;
- the diversity of commitments.
► Auditor satisfaction rate
At the end of the course, participants are asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire. For all Youth cycles organised from July 2024 to June 2025, 92 % auditors were satisfied with the training.
► Rates (effective 28 March 2026)
The cost of the cycle is :
- 525 € for assets;
- 160 € for students, individuals in career transition, or those who are unemployed.
Fees include :
- accommodation arrangements (except at the École Militaire and for courses run in cooperation with the Regional Associations);
- catering arrangements (lunch and dinner only at the Ecole Militaire and lunch only for courses run in cooperation with the Regional Associations);
- transport arrangements during the cycle;
- funding for educational activities.
They don't understand:
- the return journey ;
- accommodation the day before the cycle;
- additional costs not related to cycle activities.
The fees charged for overseas courses are adapted to the socio-economic situation, as decided by the IHEDN Board of Directors.
The fee is declaratory (and validated by the IHEDN on examination of the application), on presentation of proof for the student fee.
► Financing
Information about using the Personal Training Account (CPF) :
All youth courses are eligible for the CPF, unless otherwise stated. Each cycle is open to " mytrainingaccount " withinone month before the start of the course.
Auditors wishing to use their CPF are invited to prepare their account and their application, but to submit their request only once their application has been accepted and in accordance with the instructions given to them by the IHEDN with the selection reply.
Financial assistance provided by the IHEDN Endowment Fund :
Students and jobseekers are eligible for financial assistance if they fall into one of the following categories:
- beneficiaries of a higher education grant based on social criteria (BCS) ;
- registered with France travail without entitlement to unemployment benefit (ARE);
- recipients of the Active Solidarity Income (RSA).
This aid consists in the assumption of responsibility by the IHEDN Endowment Fund a registration fee of €70, with the remainder to be paid by the beneficiary.
Applications should be sent to seminaires_jeunes@ihedn.fr specifying the cycle concerned, accompanied by up-to-date proof (notification of definitive grant award for the current school year, notification of refusal of ARE, certificate of entitlement to RSA).
This must be done at the same time as the online application.
Endowment Fund assistance is not compatible with use of the CPF.
IHEDN will inform the applicant of the outcome of his/her application, on the understanding that the grant is not awarded systematically as it is subject to a limited annual volume.
training assessment and skills certification
► To obtain certification of competence
IHEDN's youth programmes prepare auditors who wish to do so for the "Understanding and Anticipating Defence and Security Issues" qualification, which is registered with the French Ministry of Defence. Specific France Compétences directory under number RS6804 since 1er October 2024
Certification of competence is based on two assessment methods:
- a summary ;
- a prospective analysis note.
Papers must be submitted within 15 calendar days of the last day of the course. Support sessions are organised by the IHEDN after the end of the course.
The two deliverables must be sent in by the deadlines and according to the procedures indicated during the course. It will not be possible to make up or partially validate skills.
The jury awarding certification meets twice a year. Each candidate is informed personally, by electronic means, of the outcome of the jury's deliberations, within a maximum of 10 working days after the jury has met.
In 2024, 68.9 % of the auditors who took part in the certification validated the target competency.
► To qualify as an auditor
Two assessment methods:
- a collective report ;
- an assessment of the knowledge acquired at the conferences, in the form of a multiple-choice questionnaire.
future cycles
Applications are now open 4 month before the start of the session.
IHEDN-Youth Cycles in 2026
158e YOUTH CYCLE
PAYS DE LA LOIRE
From 26 January to 30 January 2026
Registration is now closed.
159e YOUTH CYCLE*
NEW AQUITAINE (Bordeaux) – day school
From 2 February to 6 February 2026
Registration is now closed.
*This cycle, day studentsis organised in partnership with the Association Régionale des auditeurs de l'IHEDN région Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
160e YOUTH CYCLE
BOURGOGNE-FRANCHE-COMTÉ
From 16 March to 20 March 2026
Registration is now closed.
161e YOUTH CYCLE*
AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPES (Grenoble) - day school
From 23 March to 27 March 2026
Registration is now closed.
*This cycle, day studentsis organised in partnership with the Association Régionale des auditeurs de l'IHEDN région Dauphiné-Savoie.
162e YOUTH CYCLE
BRITTANY
From 8 June to 12 June 2026
- Registration opens: 8 February 2026
- Closing date for entries: 8 March 2026
163e YOUTH CYCLE
GRAND-EST
From 6 July to 10 July 2026
- Registration opens: 6 March 2026
- Closing date for entries: 6 April 2026
164e YOUTH CYCLE
ÎLE-DE-FRANCE - externship
From 26 October to 30 October 2026
- Registration opens: 26 June 2026
- Closing date for entries: 26 July 2026
165e YOUTH CYCLE
ANTILLES
Currently being reprogrammed
- Registration opens: 23 July 2026
- Closing date for entries: 23 August 2026
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